Package for stockings



1935. H. c. ABERLE, JR

I PACKAGE FOR STOCKINGS Filed Jan. 7, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Hil ry LT flfier/efi' BY M ATTORNEY QMQQLJKA w 9 Feb. 26, 1935. ABERLE, JR 1,92,799

PACKAGE FOR STOCKINGS Filed Jan. 7, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fi ar-ry flberie J2 Patented Feb, 26, 1935 PACKAGE FOR STOCKINGS Harry G. Aberle, J12, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to H. C. Aberle Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 7, 1931, Serial'No. 507,056

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in packaging hosiery, especially silk stockings. These are customarily packed in rectangular boxes P which are roughly a quarter to a third of the length of the stockings, generally three pair per box, folded and laid one on top of the other. When such packages are stationary and horizontal the stockings remain neat, but in handling and shiping the boxes are inevitably tipped so that the stockings become mussed and disarranged, and present a disorderly appearance to customers, their salability being impaired. Very delicate hosiery may even be injured in shipping under such conditions.

In the past and especially recently, numerous proposals have been made to remedy this defect of known packages. The proposed packages generally have the fault, however, of being expensive to manufacture and involving difiiculties in the packaging operations. As the only purpose of the wrapping is to maintain the stockings in proper condition until they reach the ultimate purchaser, when it is discarded, the expense involved in manufacture of most of the packages heretofore suggested automatically rules them out of consideration from a practical point of view.

The principal object of the present invention hence resides in the provision of packaging which will not only maintain stockings in neat array but also be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and convenient to assemble.

A further object of the invention resides in improved constructions of this kind which shall keep the stockings clean during shipment and storage and at the same time permit inspection of the same by purchasers, without disarranging the stockings.

As illustrating the present invention there will now be described preferred embodiments thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the top of a package containing hosiery, according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the underside of the package. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the upper part of a pair of stockings in relation to one side of the sheet about which the stockings are folded. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the side opposed to that shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section along the line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a section through the package on a line such as 5--5 of Fig. 3. Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show a modified embodiment of the invention, Fig. 7 being a plan View of a stocking, partly broken away to show an insert therein, and

Figs. 8 and 9 being perspectives of the same, partly folded and completely folded, respectively.

There are shown at l envelopes of suitable length and of width substantially equal to or only slightly greater than the width of the top of the stockings when the latter are flattened as shown, about which envelopes are folded stockings with said tops along or adjacent to ends of the envelopes, and with their upper portions 2 at one side of the envelopes, and the remaining portions of each pair neatly folded against the other sides of the respective envelopes, preferably so that they pass around one end of each envelope only, one pair of stockings for each envelope. These envelopes not only function as support for the stockings to maintain them, in cooperation with the other portions of the package to be described, in their positions as described, but also serve as containers for each individual pair of stockings when sold to a customer. An interleaving sheet of paper, or the like, of suificient firmness to position and support the stockings may be used in place of each envelope, but the latter is preferable. The stockings, generally three pair per package in combination with the envelopes are then superimposed one pair upon another, and a sheet of Cellophane 4, whose width is equal to the length of the envelopes, is placed around the three pair of stockings and overlapped as at 5. The Cellophane thus does not cover the ends of the stockings or envelopes and hence permits the prospective purchaser to feel the hosiery to ascertain its quality without disarranging the stockings. Around the center of the package as thus composed is placed a band of paper 6 of suitable strength for maintaining the Cellophane snugly around the stockings. The ends of this band may be joined by means of a sticker 7. The whole package as shown in Fig. 2 may then be placed in a box proportioned, so that the package just fits within it.

There is shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9 alternative means for maintaining the stockings in proper position when packed, preferably by folding them as shown and wrapping them in Cellophane. In this construction, an interleaving sheet 10 of thin but stiff paper, or the like, is cut to the shape of the stockings and inserted in each, after which the stockings and their inserts may be folded so that the upper portions 2 are of suitable length to just fit a given box, and the balance 3 of the stockings including the feet 3a, folded as best described by the drawings.

The weight and stiffness of the interleaving sheets may vary considerably and will depend somewhat on the quality of the stockings; it should simply be of sufiicient firmness to position the stockings in the package.

It will be appreciated that this packaging presents a number of advantageous features and at the same time is very simple to put together and inexpensive to manufacture. Where hand labor is used in packaging the stockings the present invention makes it extremely easy for even a very inexperienced employee to quickly and perfectly pack the stockings. In view of the novel results secured by this package, it is not desired to limit it to the specific details illustrated and described, nor otherwise save by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, incombination, a sheer transparent knitted stocking and a paper strip arranged Within the stocking and of an outline conforming generally to the interior outline of the stocking through a substantial portion of the length thereof, said paper strip being flexible throughout to be folded at any desired point to enable the stocking to be folded into any desired number of folds, each fold of any desired area, the paper strip due to its flexibility flattening out as the stocking is unfolded to allow inspection of the latter.

2. As an article of manufacture, in combination, a sheer transparent knitted stocking, and a pliable sheet of suitable material arranged Within the stocking conforming generally to the width of the stocking, and extending through a major portion of the leg thereof, said sheet being flexible throughout to be folded into any desired number of folds, each fold of any desired area, the sheet dueto its flexibility flattening out as the stocking is unfolded, to allow the inspection of the latter.

HARRY C. ABERLE, JR. 

